Dust collector bag for air-method cleaners



Oct. 8, 1935. D. B. REPLOGLE DUST COLLECTOR BAG FOR AIRMETHOD CLEANERSFiled May 29, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR .D. .B. Panes/.5,

ATTORNEY Oct. 8, 1935. REPLQGLE 2,016,295

DUST COLLECTOR BAG FOR AIR-METHOD CLEANERS Filed May 29, 1934 2Sheets-Sheet 2 D. Z3. PEP/.OGLE,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 8, 1935 DUST COLLECTOR BAG FORAIR-METHOD CLEANERS Daniel Benson Replogle, Berkeley, Calii., assignorto Citizens Trust Company, Toledo, Ohio. a corporation of Ohio, trusteeApplication May 29, 1934, Serial No. 728,156

6 Claims.

This invention pertains'to dust collector bags such as are used inconnection with pneumatic cleaners, and means for detachably securingthe same to said cleaners. The invention is particularly applicable tothat form of electrical motordriven portable cleaner in which suctionproducing means are directly connected to a suction pipe that carriesthe floor cleaning tool and are moved about manually with the pipe, orsome part of it, used as a handle. Such cleaners are known commerciallyunder the registered trademark Air-Way.

The invention is in the nature of an improvement on the type of dustcollector disclosed in Replogle Patent No. 1,416,876, dated May 23,1922, and it is one of the objects of the present invention to provide aready means for detachably securing the dust collector, consisting of aninner and an outer bag, to the handle of the cleaner. Another object isto simplify removal of the inner bag from the outer bag. A furtherobject of the invention is to provide improved connecting means betweenthe dust collector and the discharge pipe of the fan or suction produc-2 ing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with asuction cleaner, a cleaner bag comprising opposed side walls havingseparated upper edges defining between them a mouth for the reception ofan inner dust collecting receptacle, each wall being individuallysuspended from the cleaner at its upper edge, one of said walls beingdetachable from the cleaner while the other remains suspended, so as toallow the insertion of said inner receptacle while the bag is supportedupon the cleaner.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with asuction cleaner, a normally 40 fiat cleaner bag of fabric materialcomprising opposed side walls, separated at their upper edges and alongtheir end edges from the upper corners of the bag to pointssubstantially above the bottom of the bag and thence joined from said 5points to the bottom of the bag and along said bottom to form a pocket,each wall being individually suspended from the cleaner, and one of thewalls being detachable from the cleaner while the other remainssuspended, whereby to to form a side opening in the bag at the upperextremity of said pocket.

Other features of the invention and other objects and advantages thereofwill be apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings, in

which are set forth illustrative embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaner of the type disclosed in myReissue Patent No. 16,224; 5 with the dust collecting device in place;

Fig. 2 shows a flat rectangular sheet of paper suitable for the paperbag;

Fig. 3 represents the paperbag formed up;

Fig. 4 shows the inner bag folded ready for in- 10 sertion;

Fig. 5 shows a sheet of cloth suitable for the cover;

Fig. 6 represents the outer bag formed up;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a nipple for con- 15 necting the innerbag to the fan case discharge tube;

Fig. 8 shows the same with the inner bag attached; I

Fig. 9 is a detail of one of the double clip con- 20 structions, bywhich the outer bag is suspended from the handle;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the assembled device, with one cornerof the outer bag broken away;

Fig. 11 is a view in perspective of a discharge of an Air-Way typecleaner. to which the nipple is attachable;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of cleaner with amodified bag applied thereto, one edge of the outer bag being engaged byclips carried by the handle and the other separated therefrom;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 10, but showing themodified form of attaching clips; Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional viewshowing one of the attaching clips;

Fig. 15 is a similar view showing the other of the attaching clips;

Fig. 16 is a side view showing the clip illustrated in section in Fig.14, and

Fig. 17 is a view showing a further modified form of spring clip.

The specific features of the preferred embodiment of the invention areset forth in Figs. 4 to 11 and are the joint invention of myself andHarold E. Queen, these features being claimed in application Serial No.613,508, filed May 25, 1932, whereas the generic invention included inall modifications together with the specific details set forth in Figs.12 to 17 inclusive are my sole invention.

A cleaner of the general type shown in my Reissue Patent No. 16,224,dated December 15, 1925, is illustrated in Fig. 1 with the preferredform of dust collector applied thereto, and as shown, the referencenumeral 100 denotes a suction producing means such as an electricalmotor, fan and fan casing, IIII denotes a hollow conduit handle, I02denotes a valve in the handle by means of which the suction can bedirected from either end of the handle, I03 denotes a detachableapplication tool on the shorter end of the handle used when cleaningfloors, and I04 denotes the dust collector bag.

The dust collector includes an inner and an outer bag. Successive stepsin the process of making the inner bag are illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4inclusive, wherein numeral I represents a flat rectangular sheet ofporous paper, approximately twice as long as its width, which is formedinto a bag 2 by folding on line 3 and stitching or gluing along thejoined edges 4, leaving opening I. A cord is attached to the bag nearthe mouth for attachment to nipple I, which is provided with a smallhole in its wall adjacent its opposite end.

The nipple 1 is adapted to be inserted into the fan case discharge tube33 of the suction producing means I00, and to be retained by engagementof peg 34, carried by spring latch 35, with the hole 3. Nipple I has areduced section 3 upon which is shrunk a section of fibre tube I0 havinga down-bent deflector tip II leaving an annular groove I2 adapted toreceive the cord 0 when tied around the neck I3 of the mouth of theinner bag.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, numeral 25 represents a flatrectangular sheet of cloth which, when folded on line I 4 across itsmiddle, Joined by sewing I5 at one end and by a zip lock I6 at the otherend, forms the outer bag. IT. The edges I8-I8- of the outer bag I! aretightly folded about a strip of still. material I3, such as fibre, asshown in Figs. 9 and 10, to which strip it is glued or fastened bysewing to itself along line 20. A channel 2| of stiff material such assheet aluminium is folded about the edges I8, forming a stiffened andenlarged beaded edge 22. The beads 22 are adapted to be releasablyengaged in a suitable manner from spring clips or the like carried bythe cleaner handle. In this manner the entire dust collector, includingthe inner and outer bags, is detachably supported. As shown, numeral 23denotes a band of springy material such as spring steel or aluminiumformed into a loop 24 encompassing and gripping handle IOI whentightened by screw bolt 26, and having recesses 21-21 near its ends28--28 which are bent down to form guides for the beads 22-22. Shortstrips of springy material such as spring steel or aluminium formhold-down covers 29-29 adapted to retain beads 22-22 in recesses 2'I-2'Iuntil released by raising cover ends 30--30. Raised bumps 3| and 32 oneach bead 22 serve to locate the bead under covers 29-49 against endwisemovement.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. When the collector is in use the nipple l is retainedrigidly in the discharge tube 33 of the fan case by means of a latch 35carrying a peg 34 which engages in the aperture 8. The outer bag beingsmaller in size than the inner bag, it is necessary to fold the latterfor insertion into the outer bag. Driven air from the fan outletdischarge tube 33 tends to balloon the inner bag and to partially expandthe folds, but the inner bag is sustained from tearing'by contact withthe outer covering bag which is of stronger material. The assembled bagsare restrained against endwise movement by the coaction of theprojections 32 and the spring fingers 20.

When the inner bag becomes fouled after continued use, it may be readilyremoved and res placed by an unused bag. This is done by first partiallyopening the forward end of the outer bag by operating the zipper IIwhich permits the reinforced edges 22 of the outer bag to be withdrawnfrom the spring clips which normally retain the same in position. Eitherone or both of the edges of the outer bag may be withdrawn from theholding clips, which renders the inner bag accessible and permits thehollow connector to be withdrawn after the same has been released fromthe discharge tube of the fan case by lifting the latch 30 anddisengaging the peg 34 from the hole 0. The hollow connector is nowengaged within the reduced neck of a new bag which is secured in placeby means of the cord 0, and the outer cover is placed about the innerbag which is folded as previously described, and the open end of theouter cover is again closed by means of the zipper. The hollow connectoris then detachably secured to the discharge tube of the fan case and thereinforced edges 22 of the outer bag are detachably secured within theirrespective clips, being properly located endwise by the projections 32.

- In Fig. 12 there is illustrated a cleaner of the double motor typedisclosed in my Patent No. 1,533,271, dated April 14, 1925, whichcleaner is equipped with a dust collecting and. air filtering bag whichmay likewise be of the type disclosed in said patent, the principaldiflerence residing in the form of spring clips employed for detachablysecuring the bag to the handle, those disclosed in the presentapplication being provided with a central plate or partition so thatopposite sides of the bag may be individually 40 secured andindividually removed.

' As illustrated, the cleaner includes two suction producing devices,the motors of which are designated I00w-I00a, and handle portions I0Ia-IOIa, between which is mounted a valve MM. The cleaner may beequipped with the usual floor tool I03a, and the outer bag of the dustcollector unit is designated by the numeral I0la, shown as provided withpockets Ia and I501) as in my Patent No. 1,533,271, to receive the inner50 bag, referred to by the numeral I04b. The'outer bag is carried by apair of duplex clips I05 and I06, carried by the handle and shown indetail in Figs. 14, 15 and 16.

The dust collector and air filter may be sub- 5 stantially the same asthat disclosed in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,533,271, the inner bag beingof porous paper, as set forth in my Patent No. 1,416,876, and providedwith a reduced portion I01 adapted to fit over a coupler I03, which inturn communicates with and preferably fits over the exhaust pipe I09 ofa fan casing IIO. A flexible band or elastic IIIa may be provided tosecure the mouth of the paper bag to the coupler I08. 5

A detailed description of the outer bag I0la is unnecessary as it may besubstantially identical with that set forth in my Patent No. 1,533,271,

its longitudinal edges being rigidified, preferably by the use of rods,which may be of wood or other suitable material and which are hereindesignated by the reference numerals III, II2, to which the cloth of thebag may be secured in any suitable manner, as by gluing or tacking, orboth. These rods are adapted to be indifirmly against the handle.

vidually engaged in the three-pronged clips which are carried by thehandle, these clips being so formed that either rod maybe removed whilethe other remains in place, so that access may be had to the inner bagfor replacement purposes.

When in place the outer bag encloses the inner bag and the dischargeconnection or coupler I08 extends between the forward edges of theclosed bag. This bag may, if desired, be provided with pockets forreception of the inner paper bag,

as set forth in Patent No. 1,533,271.

The bag-holding clips include a pair of curved outer side spring prongsH3, H4, adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the reinforcing bars orrods II I and H2, respectively, and an inner flexible plate H5, likewisepreferably of springy material which separates the side bars and permitsind'vidual removal thereof. The lower clip I05 is shown in detail inFig. 15, wherein the Outer prongs H3, H4 have portions H6, H1respectively, which surround the handle and overlap one another at thetop of the handle. As shown, the portion I'I'I overlies a curvedextension H8 of the central plate H5 and holds it Fastening means H9 areemployed just below the handle for holding the outer prongs in assembledposition. Preferably the plate H5 is provided with a pair of laterallyextending lugs II5a and H5!) at the lower portion thereof adapted toprevent accidental removal of the side bars III and H2.

The upper clip I06, shown in detail in Fig. 14,

is similar to the clip I05, except that the extensions of the prongs H3and H4 do not overlap at the top, but are curved outwardly and heldtogether by a member HSa, which, as shown in Fig. 13, extends a shortdistance lengthwise of the handle of the cleaner. The out-turned upperportions of the extensions II 6, III are adapted to detachably embrace aconnector switch I20, which carries the wires supplying the motors I00a,l00a with electric current. The member Hfla underlies this connectorswitch and holds the same in position, as indicated in Fig. 13.

A modification of the clip shown in Fig. 14 is illustrated in Fig. 17,wherein three spring metal prongs H3a, H4a and H5a are held in place bya clamp which is secured to the handle. The clamp includes two halvesI2I, I22 which are held together below the handle by means of a fastenerI23 and above the handle by a fastener I24. An opening I25 is providedto receive a connector switch similar to that shown at I20 in Fig. 12.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. Assuming the dust collector including the inner and outerbags to be in place and the inner bag filled with dust, one of therigidifying rods III or H2 carried by the cloth bag may be removed fromits position within the clips, leaving the other in place, held by theresilience of one of the outer prongs in combination with the centralprong. The lowering of one side of the outer bag renders the inner bagaccessible, so that it may be removed by merely detaching the rubberband or other fastening means I I Ia, whereupon a new bag may besubstituted. The rod carried by the released edge of the outer bag maynow be replaced within the clips and the cleaner is ready for operation.

The generic invention involved in all of the modifications hereindisclosed is the same; that is to say, all embodiments of the inventioninclude the idea of providing means carried by the handle for releasablyengaging the rigidified upper edges of the outer cleaner bagindividually, whereby one may be detached while the other remainssuspended. This generic idea is my sole invention and is claimed herein.In the embodiment of the invention disclosed most clearly in Figs. 9 and10, which isthe joint invention of H. E. Queen andmyself, pairs ofspring clasps are provided wh'ch extend and open laterally on oppositesides of the handle, so that when the bag is inflated the strengtheningrods and spring clips form a part of the distended circular bag. Thisarrangement puts less strain on the bag when the sticks are already helddistended in the direction which the stran will come and a lighter stickmay thus be used.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 12 to 17, whichembodiment is my sole invention, each bag holding clip extends and opensdownwardly from the handle, accidental removal of the side bars beingprevented by the lugs H. and H52) of the intermediate prong or plate H5.The outer prongs H3, N4 of the clip engage the outer surfaces of the twoseparate reinforcing rods'or bars of the cleaner bag, and theintermediate plate I I5 is in contact with the inner-,surfaces of bothof the reinforcing bars. Ths arrangement is simple and inexpensive andpermits a considerable saving of material.

The present application is a continuation in part of my applicationSerial No. 640,690, filed November 1, 1932.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a suction cleaner, a cleaner bag comprisingopposed side walls having separated upper edges defining between them amouth for the reception of an inner dust collecting receptacle, eachwall being individually suspended from the cleaner at its upper edge,one of said walls being detachable from the cleaner while the otherremains suspended, so as to allow the insertion of said inner receptaclewhile the bag is supported upon the cleaner.

2. In combination with a suction cleaner, a normally flat cleaner bag.of fabric material comprising opposed side walls, separated at theirupper edges and along their end edges from the upper corners of the bagto points substantially above the bottom of the bag and thence joinedfrom said points to the bottom of the bag and along said bottom to forma pocket, each wall being individually suspended from the cleaner, andone of the walls being detachable from the cleaner while the otherremains suspended, whereby to form a side opening in the bag at theupper extremity of said pocket.

3. In combination with the handle of a suction cleaner, a cleaner bagcomprising opposed side walls, having rigidified upper edge membersdefining between them a mouth for reception of an inner porous dustcollecting bag, and means carried by the handle for releasably engagingsaid upper edge members individually, whereby one may be detached whilethe other remains suspended.

4. In combination with a suction cleaner having a fan casing dischargeconnection, a cleaner bag comprising opposed side walls, one of which isindividually suspended at its upper edge from the cleaner, and the otherof which has an upper portion detached from said first mentioned sidewall both at its upper edge and along its end edges, and downwardlyfoldable to provide tioned side wall both at its upper edge and alongits end edges from the upper corners of the bag to points substantiallyabove the lower corners thereof, and downwardly folclable to provide aside opening in the bag, and means for securing said foldable portion inbag-closing relationship with the other side wall, said means beingreleasable while the bag remains suspended on the cleaner, saiddischarge connection being extended between the forward edges of thebag.

6. In combination with a suction cleaner, a normally fiat cleaner bag offabric material comprising opposed side walls, one of which is 5individually suspended from the cleaner at its upper edge, and the otherof which has its upper portion detached from said first mentioned sidewall both at its upper edge and along its end edges from the uppercorners of the bag to points 10 substantially above the lower cornersthereof, the walls being joined from said points to the bottom of thebag and along the bottom to form a pocket, said upper portion beingfoldable downwardly along a line joining said pockets to 15 form a mouthat'the upper extremity of said pocket, and means for securing saidfoldable upper portion in bag-closing relationship with the other sidewall, said means being releasable while the bag remains suspended on thecleaner. 2

DANIEL BENSON REPLOGLE.

